Apoorva Bapna

Last week, I delivered the opening keynote at the The Economic Times ET BrandEquity BrandWorld Summit. I shared insights on "How to Make it and Not Fake it as CMO". Here are key takeaways: - The average tenure of a CMO is decreasing due to faster promotions and increased churn from failing to meet expectations. - CMOs must adapt to a changing landscape influenced by technology growth, retail-media convergence, and evolving consumers (More Gen Z and Alpha). - To thrive, CMOs must focus on their AQ (Adaptability Quotient). You get recruited for your IQ, promoted for your EQ but your career longevity is based on your AQ. - Aspiring CMOs should craft a personalized 70/20/10 Development Plan, emphasizing learning on the job (70%), building relationships (20%) , and formal training (10%). - I outlined 4 essential CMO personas: The Organisation Architect, The ROI Champion, The Omni-Channel Operator, and The Unifier, and shared 70/20/10 strategies and ideas for each. In conclusion, remember AQ>EQ>IQ. Take charge of your Development Plan to reach the CMO level! Explore the full recording in the comments for detailed insights. #CMO #LeadershipDevelopment

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Sharing my piece 'The rise of influencer activism: Bournvita's sour taste' in ET BrandEquity Thanks Prasad Sangameshwaran for the opportunity & considering my piece. In the case of Bournvita, the controversy highlighted the need for brands to adopt transparent and responsible communication strategies during times of crisis. Instead of resorting to legal action and aggressive tactics, brands should prioritize open dialogue and address consumer concerns proactively. Failure to do so can exacerbate the crisis and further damage brand reputation. In today's digital age, the power dynamics of brand communication have shifted significantly with the rise of influencer activism. Mrinall Dey (He/Him) Jyotsna Dash Nanda Aalap Desai Anubhuti Yadav Kulveen Trehan Raja Ghoshal Amrit Ahuja Anup Sharma Soham Majumdar Akanksha Jain CommsAdda Goldee Patnaik Akanksha Jain jatin khattar Manu Kumar Bharatendu Kabi Bhanu Arora Nandini Chatterjee Prof. Diwakar Shukla Paarul Chand Bijoya A Ghosh Karan Bhatia Rahul Puri #Mondelez #bournvita Varghese M. Thomas Minari Shah https://lnkd.in/gCFU8qyt

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Does #MindfulCulture seem a utopian concept? You should have listened to: - Katyayani Krishna’s initiatives on making #MindfulMeetings a reality and bringing Mindfulness to the leadership team. - Sanjeeb Lahiri sharing about the interesting practice to curb impulsive reactions during the #meetings. - Kamlesh Dangi’s idea of identifying 15-behaviours for #Mindful responses; and keeping purpose in sight when setting the direction. - Rajeev Bhadauria sharing multiple insights on Mindful behaviours and making communication and ecosystem as the core drivers of Mindful Culture. - Kalpan Desai sharing anecdotes on Mindful ways of leading and his vision to take Mindful Culture beyond workplaces. - Mitali Barot’s thoughts on policies as enablers and Neha Kadam’s perspectives on building situational guidelines. - Rajiv Das’s way of taking involvement from 5-minutes to 40 minutes. Building a Mindful Culture seems much more practical and a very exciting endeavour now. Inviting you to share your best practices and be part of the 'Mindful Culture Cohort'. See you in the next edition of ‘The Source Code of Mindful Culture’. MEx | Strat-Board Services | Frob - Friends of Books | Gaurav Bakshi | Mohit Gupta | Aarthi Lakshmi | Vrinda Makhija | Ridhima Kaul

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"Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) initiatives to increase women’s participation in the workforce are firmly on track, according to 54% employers in India, significantly above the global average of 46%, revealed a survey conducted by staffing firm ManpowerGroup India. The information technology (IT) sector (58%) leads the way in strengthening the diversity ratio, according to the Diversity Outlook Survey of 3,150 Indian employers, followed by healthcare and life sciences (54%) and financials and real estate sector (54%). Industrials and materials sector (42%) and consumer goods and services (34%) are among the laggards, said a report based on the survey. Internal leadership development programmes (43%) are most effective in helping retain and secure diverse talent, followed closely by flexible work policies (42%), according to the survey. Creating an inclusive organisational culture (35%) and internal mentoring and coaching (32%) are among the other prominent drivers, it found. “India’s gender diversity is among the best worldwide and it is encouraging to see women participation in the workforce increasing at a rapid pace. Organisations have realigned their hiring strategies by mandating women hiring at every level across sectors,” Sandeep Gulati, managing director of Manpower Group India and Middle East, said in a statement. “Technology has made flexibility possible coupled with specialised programmes to bring back women with long professional breaks, all of which have greatly contributed to this trend,” he said, adding that India would advance much faster if more and more women were added to the labour force. Technology has played a key role in narrowing the gender gap at work, the survey found. While 80% of employers said it has allowed them to be more flexible, helping them promote gender equality, 77% said tech advancements have fostered gender equality, 74% said tech has diversifying their IT talent pipelines and 70% said artificial intelligence-based tools have helped recruit the best candidates regardless of gender. Four in 10 organisations (43%) said leadership development programmes effectively expanded the candidate pool to include more individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Employers ranked trust and well-being as the most effective drivers of DEIB success. Employers said they expect most of the progress on gender equality to happen in the next two years. Even then, only 38% of employers said gender equality would be fully achieved in their organisations, while 21% of employers said their organisations had already been successful in this regard." https://lnkd.in/gR_Xqkxi

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Lessons from the MDH-Everest row: Navigating foreign waters and engaging the conscious Indian consumer in afaqs! by Nisha Qureshi Bhaskar Majumdar, head of marketing communication, CSR & Digital Egis - India and South Asia says that it's imperative for these brands to communicate effectively with their consumers. He adds that brands should immediately issue transparent statements addressing the bans and assure consumers of their commitment to quality and safety. According to him, clear communication about the steps being taken to address the issue and any potential risks is essential. “Both brands must conduct thorough investigations into their supply chains and manufacturing processes to identify any sources of EtO contamination. If necessary, the brands should initiate recalls or offer product exchanges for affected batches. Rebuilding trust with their consumers will be essential for these brands to regain their reputation and continue serving their loyal customer base.” Mrinall Dey (He/Him) Jyotsna Dash Nanda Minari Shah Amrit Ahuja Seema Shah Ahuja Manu Kumar Aalap Desai Lloyd Mathias Nisha Sampath Sridhar Ramanujam Tarunjeet Rattan Ameer Ismail (He/Him) https://lnkd.in/g8BZ5tHc

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Another day at work. Championing Marketing and all the wonderful Marketers building great #Brands. A breezy summary of my PoV :- Roger / Rafa / Novak and Andy - the big 4 , and yet on shoe doesn’t fit all . All 4 player the slams , won / lost, created fans, made us emotional and left real challenges to next gen to achieve. Brands need to balance ATL / Digital / BTL and technology. A start up brand / a top of the chart mid sized bank like us / a top brand in its categories will all have different needs aka far mvp and base sales going / build franchise / play leadership and create new markets + segments Closer home the elections are testimony that all media / medium and content needs to be used to deliver the message. And if I were to track just one thing as a marketer is how is it being interpreted and recieved. Bottom line or top line will happen as desired Marketers are in an election mode due to the various opportunities to communicate in multiple formats and frequency. Managing data privacy - brands should walk the talk, and help create framewors, trust is a non negotiable currency. Misuse of data, spam, proliferation for a few leads more all have long term impact on brand health. 175* only those at the venue knew. ( those outside read in the papers and those born much later watched 83’ ! ;-) #Tennis #BuildingBrands #Competing #Winning Thank You ET BrandEquity

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Nirmala Nair of Kaboom Social Impact on Using Pop Culture for Social Change In the "Trending towards Transformation - Leveraging Pop Culture for Social Impact" session at #RWS24, Nirmala Nair discussed Kaboom Social Impact’s innovative approach to using #PopCulture to reach and engage audiences on important social issues. She emphasized the necessity of creating #EntertainingContent to effectively communicate #SocialMessages, highlighting that people consume content for its entertainment value, not just its importance. Nirmala shared an impactful example from 2018, where Kaboom used the #RapCulture surge, fueled by the popularity of "Gully Boy," to address #MenstrualHygiene. Collaborating with Dee MC, a prominent female rapper from the movie, they created a compelling #campaign that resonated with young audiences, opening up conversations around typically #taboo topics. By leveraging #popculture, Kaboom aims to challenge and broaden the space for discussions on critical social issues, making them more accessible and engaging to the public. 🔗 Watch the full conversation: https://lnkd.in/gg8M_svT Aniruddha Mahale Anirudh Saigal Priyanka Kher #SocialImpact #KaboomSocialImpact #RWS24 #MenstrualHygiene #NarrativeShift #ContentCreation #YouthEngagement

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Poonam Gupta Khan on Performance consulting assignments: Who is the real client? What is the end outcome? Meet them where they are & through dialogue help them deepen their own perspective and understanding says Poonam. "Dont take the initial Client input at face value, have a dialogue that helps them deepen their own understanding of the purpose, help them reach out to their peers & teams to deepen diagnosis" Opines Poonam, her Podcast goes Live next Monday - 22Apr24 - watch this space... #performanceconsulting #learninganddevelopment #leadershipdevelopment #talentmanagement #saiacuity #themondaymorninglearningpodcast #india

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A Personal Tribute to Sir Ratan Tata, A Visionary Leader I'm deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Shri Ratan Tata, a true legend and iconic business leader. But for me, this news is more personal. In 2012-13, when I was in 3rd grade, Sir Ratan Tata visited my school. My school was the only one in the region with Tata ClassEdge smart boards installed in all classrooms - a cutting-edge technology at that time. What made his visit even more remarkable was that he came to observe how our teachers were leveraging Tata ClassEdge technology to enhance learning experiences. He wanted to see firsthand how his vision of education was being implemented. I vividly remember that day. A few selected students, including me, were called early to school and told that a special guest was coming. We were curious, but the school never revealed who it was. And then, I saw him - Sir Ratan Tata. I shook hands with him, completely unaware of the magnitude of his influence and legacy. That brief encounter left an indelible mark on my mind. His warm smile, humility, and gentle demeanor made a lasting impression. As I grew older, I realized the significance of that moment and began to appreciate his remarkable contributions to Indian business and philanthropy. That chance meeting taught me valuable lessons: 1. Humility and kindness can coexist with greatness. 2. Innovation and progress can uplift communities. 3. Leadership is not just about success but about making a difference. Even today, when I share this story with others, many find it hard to believe. But for me, that handshake with Sir Ratan Tata will always be a cherished memory. Rest in peace, Sir Ratan Tata. Your legacy will continue to inspire future generations. #RatanTata #TataGroup #Legacy #Inspiration #Leadership #PersonalTribute

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"Several companies have stepped up measures to boost gender diversity at leadership levels and their efforts are paying off with improved representation at the top. At Accenture, 29% of the leaders in India are women. Diageo India has 30% women in senior leadership. In the last few years, Marico’s efforts have pushed women into close to 30% of leadership roles. PepsiCo is looking at 40% women in the India leadership team by next year. Larsen & Toubro handpicked 495 women employees to undergo leadership development programmes in the last few years. More initiatives are lined up to improve the gender ratio at senior levels across companies, several executives told ET. India Inc’s overall gender diversity ratio at the leadership level is still heavily skewed. According to the recently launched KPMG AIMA report, 56% of those surveyed have only 10-30% women in leadership positions, while 9% lack any female leaders. “We focus on gender balance across career levels, building a robust pipeline of talented women for mid and senior levels, and ensuring women’s representation in critical business and leadership roles, including at the board level,” said Lakshmi C, lead, human resources, Accenture India. The Accenture board globally has 45% women, while 29% of its leaders in India are female. Women hold key global leadership roles at the company including chair and chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief leadership and human resources officer, chief marketing and communications officer, and chief AI officer. Marico India recently achieved over 50% gender diversity in decision-making roles in consumer-facing functions such as R&D and marketing, chief human resources officer Amit Prakash said. “We actively engage with specialised recruitment agencies to ensure a diverse pool of candidates for every role,” he said. Marico recently launched Phoenix, a gender-neutral second career programme, and Neo Mama Network, a peer support community for expecting and new mothers. “We recognised that a platform of this kind will provide women the required support, enabling them to share experiences, learnings and discuss common themes during a significant life-stage change,” said Prakash. PepsiCo too has multiple strategies lined up to improve women leadership numbers. These include development programmes, mentoring networks and creating role models across the value chain. “At PepsiCo India, women’s representation in leadership roles have surpassed single-digit figures from 2020 to achieve an impressive >30% mark today, a threefold increase,” said Pavitra Singh, chief human resources officer, PepsiCo. L&T has put in place a number of programmes for women in leadership. These include Winspire Rise and Winspire Propel for early and mid-level leadership positions." Full report: https://lnkd.in/gSy5BvKn

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Can single adoptive mothers really balance demanding careers and motherhood? Join Lochan Narayanan (She/Her) for another episode of our podcast - 'Career Uninterrupted' as we uncover the strategies and insights shared by two incredible women, Hita Hejmadi and Rajarajeshwari Subramaniam , who juggles professional and parental roles with remarkable finesse as adoptive mothers. Link in comments. #newepisode #continuedconversation #adoptivemothers #worklifebalance #linkincomments #ofexperiences

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#Coaching #PositiveMomentumIndia #HR I recently concluded my 'Executive coaching journey' with a Senior Director in Columbia, who works for a large MNC. This is her brief feedback to her organisation: "My coach has been a great support and has taught me several tactics and models to improve my leadership skills. He has guided me to go chase my hidden potential and a happy and fulfilling life and career. He has helped me improved my time management skills and remove obstacles that were preventing me to achieve my goals". When are you planning to start 'Executive Coaching' for your leadership team and Hi-pots? Get in touch with us, if you would like know how 'coaching' can help in your organisation?

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Storytelling has emerged as a great tool to enhance creativity and inculcate productivity, leading to an environment that fosters imagination | Read my take on the 'Impact of Storytelling and Enhanced Imagination at Workplace'. #storytelling #storyteller #sudhanshurai #audiobooks

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The recent death of a young professional has personally shook me. As an organisation we need to ensure people are happy! Happiness does not come only through increments, it comes through a clean and fair environment. As leaders we must thrive to provide such an environment for our teams. Big or small team or an organisation it does not matter. I can only imagine what the parents are going through. Help people to go through a transition in a smooth and a non-toxic manner. #employeehappiness #toxicmanagers #empatheticleaders

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The trend towards hiring #IndependentDirectors based on their qualifications and capabilities is a positive development for corporate governance in India. This facilitates expert guidance, diverse perspectives, healthy skepticism and constructive tension on the board, which in turn can facilitate an organisation’s progress in a rapidly evolving global business environment.

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As this season of our podcast - 'Career Uninterrupted' moves towards its end, your host Lochan Narayanan (She/Her) along with the guest of this episode Dorris Dsilva, Menopause Wellness Coach, sheds light on the myth of perfect parenting and underscore the significance of self-care during the menopause phase of a woman, examining how menopause can affect mental health, cognitive and emotional abilities. Their holistic conversation on this crucial life stage of a woman includes understanding core beliefs, embracing a balanced lifestyle, and integrating yoga and Ayurveda into daily routines. Link in comments. #newepisode #careeruninterrupted #podcast #expert #dynamics #physicalchallenges #emotionalchallenges #linkincomments #ofexperiences

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Today, on World Pancreatic Cancer Day, I reflect on my sweet Mom’s battle with this disease & our enormous loss in 2022. Her journey taught me invaluable lessons: 1. Be your own health advocate. Insist on testing if something feels off. 🩺 2. Cherish life’s true values. Don’t get lost in the daily grind of work. 💖 3. Embrace hope & positivity. Even if you’re at the most horrific part of this journey, your outlook matters. 🤗 I encourage everyone to educate yourself through organizations like the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN), pancan.org #WorldPancreaticCancerDay #HealthAdvocacy #WorkLifeBalance

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Hey friends, here is my conversation with Sandeep Kumar, Founder and CEO of Kytes (by ProductDossier) Sandeep shares who inspired him in his entrepreneurship journey, his formula for dealing with change and setbacks, importance of purpose in leadership. To mid-senior professionals, he advises - 🎯 Know what you want 🎯 Seek it, and 🎯 Be the best at it. Find the whole conversation here - https://lnkd.in/gscQjAU4 Thanks for your insights, Sandeep.

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Priyanka Kher of Breakthrough Trust India on Leveraging Pop Culture for Social Impact At the "Trending towards Transformation - Leveraging Pop Culture for Social Impact" session at #RWS24, Priyanka Kher discussed the powerful role of #PopCulture in driving #SocialChange. She emphasized that pop culture significantly influences societal norms and highlighted Breakthrough India's use of #MusicVideos and #Storytelling to bring issues like #DomesticViolence into mainstream conversation. Priyanka shared how Breakthrough India's foundational music video, "Mann Ke Manjeere," challenged the perception of domestic violence as a private matter. This strategy, termed "using culture to change culture," involves collaborating with #ContentCreators to foster #GenderProgressive storytelling, aiming to influence young audiences aged 19-25. Their research reveals how #ContentConsumption impacts views on #GenderBasedViolence, underscoring the need for collaboration with creators to embed #SocialResponsibility in storytelling. 🔗 Watch the full conversation: https://lnkd.in/gg8M_svT Nirmala Nair Aniruddha Mahale Anirudh Saigal

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